The rest of the group circled high overhead out of immediate danger. Watching, observing, analyzing.
Thelu-ongwas massive with pink whiskers and a neon yellow fringe. Its body was dark. In the ocean, it would be nearly indistinguishable from the waves.
As she watched, it hissed at Amila, baring fangs easily as long as Kira's body. Its fringe flared, like a king cobra's hood right before it struck.
Thelu-ongcurled closer to the boat, its coils tightening, forcing the boat's bow deeper into the water.
"That boat isn't going to last much longer," Jin warned. "My analysis puts a threat of hull breach due to stress at seventy-eight percent. Your time is limited."
Urgency and desperation beat at Kira as Solal and Amila dipped and wove around thelu-ong’shead, narrowly avoiding being turned into a Tuann-sized snack. They moved almost too quick to follow, but not quick enough.
Thelu-ong’sfringe flared again, its mouth opening as a ball of pink light shot out like a laser. Graydon flung a hand out, energy forming around Amila.
The light bounced off the shield with a sound loud enough to break eardrums. A fist punched Kira in the chest, the board bucking under her from the reverberations of power.
Raider cursed as his did the same.
"Get distance," Wren cried. "Indya, Veer, support those two."
The oshota from Roake obeyed, the rest of them climbing.
Thelu-onghissed again, her head snapping forward when one of the oshota got too close.
Amila's hands glowed white-hot, creating a streak of light as she aimed at thelu-ong’sneck. Kira saw the danger before she did as thelu-ong’stail rose out of the water behind Amila. Kira screamed a warning, already knowing it was useless.
Her body acted without thought, closing the distance between her and Amila as the tail loomed larger with every second. Twenty feet. Ten. Almost there.
Kira braced seconds before impact. She hit the other woman, sending them tumbling through the air, the tail crashing into the space they'd just been.
Kira let go, letting Amila spin away from her.
The oshota glanced at the disaster that could have been before giving Kira a sharp nod of thanks.
It was all they had time for, thelu-ongalready gearing up for another attack, vicious in its defense. Kira and Amila immediately split, racing away from each other and forcing thelu-ongto choose its target.
Light and energy that Kira was beginning to associate withkirent the air, shields snapping into shape as thelu-ongattacked. Whatever ability existed in the Tuann to shape the energy of the world around them, also existed in thelu-ong—only magnified.
They were going to lose unless something changed.
That was unacceptable.
Come on, Kira. See what isn't obvious. There was always a way. She just had to find it.
Kira studied thelu-ongand frowned. There was something about the way it was arranged around the boat. Almost protective. She swung wide for a better look, forcing herself to ignore the battle.
Sometimes you served on the front lines. Other times you had to take a step back and see what others couldn't.
Raider broke off, dropping into place beside her. Their formation tight. "What do you see?"
"It's almost as if she is protecting something."
The rightness of those words settled into place. There was something down there. Something desperate and afraid and needing help.
"Jin, can you tell me anything about what's below the surface?" Kira asked.
The lizard unwound, perching on her shoulder and staring at the spot thelu-ongguarded with zealous intensity. After a long moment, the lizard shook its head. "No, I think she's doing something to disrupt my sensors."
"Shouldn't that be impossible?" Raider asked, voicing Kira's thoughts.
